Keir Starmer expressed his anger towards Foreign Office officials for withholding information about the Peter Mandelson security vetting controversy. The Prime Minister, in an effort to manage the fallout from the situation, expressed disbelief that he was not informed of Lord Mandelson’s failed vetting before.

During a crucial session in the Commons, Mr. Starmer emphasized that he would have revoked Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s top diplomat in Washington if he had been aware of the issue. Criticizing the Foreign Office and recently dismissing top official Sir Olly Robbins, he accused the office of intentionally keeping him in the dark.

Addressing fellow MPs, Mr. Starmer stated, “It is astonishing that throughout the entire sequence of events, Foreign Office officials chose to withhold this critical information from the highest-ranking ministers in our government. This does not align with the expectations of the majority of people in our country regarding politics, governance, and accountability.”

No response was provided by Mr. Starmer regarding allegations that No10 was pressured into confirming Lord Mandelson as the US ambassador following a leaked appointment. This matter was raised by Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, questioning the prioritization of Lord Mandelson’s appointment over security concerns.

As the former head of the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, prepares to testify before MPs, a close friend described him as “heartbroken.” UN official Tom Fletcher praised Sir Olly’s dedication to public service and integrity, highlighting the recent challenging period for him.

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